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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

IS PROPANE SAFE TO USE IN MY HOME?

Propane is a safe fuel to use in your home and business. Propane has a narrow range of flammability and cannot be ingested like gasoline or alcohol fuels because it is released as a vapor from a pressured container. In addition, award-winning preventive maintenance programs like GAS Check® (Gas Appliance System Check) ensure that homeowners understand how to properly maintain their propane appliances and enjoy a healthy, safe environment.

WHY WOULD I CHOOSE PROPANE OVER ELECTRICITY FOR MY APPLIANCES AND FOR HEATING MY HOME?

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, it could cost up to twice as much to operate your range, water heater, dryer or furnace with electricity than with propane gas. Propane gas furnaces and heaters provide more consistent warm air throughout your home at a lower cost than electric heat pumps and have a longer average life span of 20 years, compared with electric heat pumps’ 12-year average life span.

IS PROPANE DANGEROUS TO THE ENVIRONMENT?

No. Propane is an approved, alternative clean fuel listed in the 1990 Clean Air Act and the National Energy Policy Act of 1992. Propane is one of the cleanest burning of all alternative fuels; new propane-fueled vehicles can meet the very tough Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) standards, and one model even meets the Super Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) standards. Propane is also nontoxic, so it’s not harmful to soil or water.

HOW CAN I BE SURE I’M HANDLING THE USE OF PROPANE GAS PROPERLY IN MY HOME?

NPGA has developed a comprehensive maintenance program called GAS Check® (Gas Appliance System Check), in which trained technicians inspect propane systems and appliances in homes to ensure they are running safely and efficiently. The program also educates homeowners on the proper maintenance of propane appliances and how to handle propane safely.

IS PROPANE REALLY A CONVENIENT FUEL?

Yes. Propane is stored in portable tanks, so it can be used in areas beyond the natural gas mains. When used in vehicles, propane is also easily replenished and refuels at 10 gallons to 12 gallons per minute, similar to gasoline. More than 10,000 propane refueling sites are available across the country.

Propane is a trusted and reliable energy source that is used by millions of Americans each day. It fulfills energy needs by burning cleanly and efficiently, giving consumers more value for their energy dollar. People use propane in or outside their homes for furnaces, water heaters, air conditioners, outdoor grills and appliances; on farms; for industrial uses such as forklifts and fleet vehicles; and in millions of commercial establishments, including restaurants and hotels that depend on propane for heating, cooking and other uses.